GUWAHATI: CERT-In issued a public advisory on Sunday, October 27, detailing the methods cybercriminals are using to scam individuals, specifically flagging a new trend called the "digital arrest" scam.
According to the advisory, “digital arrest” is an online scam which targets victims and involves fraudsters contacting people by phone, email, or message, claiming they are under investigation for alleged crimes such as identity theft or money laundering. Victims are then pressured with threats of arrest or legal consequences if they fail to act immediately.
CERT-In issued a public advisory on Sunday, October 27, detailing the methods cybercriminals are using to scam individuals, specifically flagging a new trend called the "digital arrest" scam. According to the advisory, “digital arrest” is an online scam which targets victims and involves fraudsters contacting people by phone, email, or message, claiming they are under investigation for alleged crimes such as identity theft or money laundering. Victims are then pressured with threats of arrest or legal consequences if they fail to act immediately.
According to CERT-In, the scam’s intent is to create panic, prompting victims to act irrationally. Fraudsters often ask their targets to “clear their name” by transferring large sums of money to specified bank accounts or UPI IDs. The agency also emphasised that government bodies do not use platforms like WhatsApp or Skype for official communications, urging people to remain calm if contacted by scammers and to avoid sharing personal or financial information over the phone or video calls.
“If someone demands money over the phone or online, it’s most likely a scam,” CERT-In stated, advising the public to stay “vigilant and informed” to guard against this “emerging cyber threat.” The advisory also highlighted other scams, including phishing, lottery frauds, tech support scams, and Ponzi-style investment schemes, urging citizens to report any suspicious activity to the national cyber helpline.
PM Modi Sounds Caution
Incidentally, the CERT-In advisory came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast on Sunday October 27, spoke on the issue.
Addressing the “digital arrest” trend, Modi encouraged educational institutions to involve students in raising awareness, promoting a sense of community responsibility in countering cybercrime. Modi also shared straightforward advice on digital security: “Remember the three steps—Stop, Think, Take Action.”
“Be aware that no investigative agency conducts such interrogations over the phone or video calls. The three steps to digital security are stopping, thinking and acting. If possible, take a screenshot or record the call. No government agency issues threats over the phone or demands money,” Modi added.
